Socket for an elongated tubular lamp having spaced contact pins at its ends



Patented Mar. 11,1952

SOCKET FOR AN ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMP HAVING SPACED CONTACT PINS AT ITS ENDS Johannes Semeyn, Eindhoven, Netherlands, as-

signor to Hartford National Bank and Trust Company, Hartford, Conn., as trustee Application August 9, 1947, Serial No. 767,687 In the Netherlands August 24, 1946 This invention relates to a holder for apparatus supplied with electrical energy, more particularly for an electric discharge tube, the apparatus being provided at least at one end with two parallel current supply pins to be introduced into the holder. This holder is provided at one of the transverse surfaces with a guide channel, accessible from the side (inlet side), for these pins and with two slots for the pins, which slots are arranged at both sides of the said channel and communicate with this channel, and behind the said transverse surface, in the proximity.

of the slots there are provided electrical contact members which contact with the said pins in the operative position of the apparatus, the slots being so shaped that the distance of the symmetry axis of the pins in the operative position of the apparatus from the line of intersection of the central planes of the channel and, viewed from the inlet side, the rst slot is smaller than half the distance d between the center lines of the pins according to my copending application Serial No. 734,527, filed March 13, 1947, now Patent No. 2,575,597, issued Nov. 20, 1951. The term symmetry axis is to be understood to mean an axis extending parallel with the length direction of the pins and midway between the respective center lines of the pins.

These holders are mostly used in pairs for a single electrical apparatus, when the distance between their transverse surfaces facing each other is smaller than the total length of the apparatus measured over the ends of the pins. The pins of the apparatus are almost simultaneously introduced into the laterally accessible guide channels of the holders. In the case of unskilled handling on introducing the apparatus, for example, when inserting a pin of the apparatus in the direction normal to the transverse surface of a holder, this pin may touch the contact member arranged behind a slot. This pin or another pin of the apparatus electrically connected to the former might then become alive and be touched, for example, by a linger of the operator.

According .to the invention, the holder comprises a member which is resiliently arranged in such manner as to shield the contact members in the direction normal to the said transverse surface, when the pins are outside the holder, and renders them accessible for contact with the pins when the pins are introduced from the side into the guide channel or the slots, respectively, the side of the shielding member facing the inlet 2 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) the guide channel or of the slots, respectively, remote from the inlet side of the holder..

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a partial section of the holder in elevation;

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the holder with the cover removed; and

Fig. 3 shows a shielding plate. f

Referring to Fig; 1, the holder comprises a Walled body portion i3 made of insulating material having a recess 32 supporting a shielding plate 29 (Fig. 3) and recess 3I supporting a cover plate I4. Shielding plate 2li moves in a vertical direction between cover plate I4 and a pair of contact springs I8 and I9. In order to cover the exposed springs I 8 and I9, shielding plate 20 is attached to a spring 2| by means of a projection 29 attached to shielding plate 20 indicated in Fig. 2. The spring is contained in a guide channel 33 and held in place by a projection 29 and a stop 30.

Fig. 2 shows shielding plate 2U in its closed position and being held in position by a stop 22. When shielding plate 20 is moved, spring 2I is 'depressed until the bottom of shielding plate 20 touches the top of guides 26, which act as stops. A hollow countersunk pin 2l, which passes through holder I3, keeps cover plate I l :in position. Terminal contacts 24 are connected through exposed spring extensions 23 to contact springs I8 and I S for external connection.

Fig. 1 shows a slot system l5, I6, I'I and 36. The pins of an electric discharge tube are introduced into a guide channel I5 of the holder. The lower pin moves shielding plate 20, depressing spring 2I until an edge 34 of the shielding plate coincides with an edge 35 of slot I6 in the cover plate. The upper pin of the electric discharge tube is then free to move into a slot I6 and seat in spring I8. The lower pin is then moved through the arcuate slot I1 untill it seats in spring I9. Slot 36 is cut in shielding plate 2D to allow pin 2l to extend through the shielding plate.

If the upper end of the shielding plate 2U should not correspond to bottom edges of slot system I5, I6 and I'I but would be straight and extend at right angles to the axis of slot I5, the stroke of the shielding plate would be much largerthan in the case illustrated. This larger stroke would require a greater height of conside of the holder/corresponding to the side of struction of the holder.

I claim:

1. A socket for electrical apparatus having two spaced parallel supply pins, comprising a supporting member having a transverse wall portion dening aV housing and being provided with an open-ended guide channel for said supply pins, said wall portion being further provided rwith a first slot open to said channel to provide a line of intersection between the central plane of said slot and the central plane of said channel and being provided with a second slot open to said channel, said first and second slots terminating at points of said wall portion which are spaced apart by the distance between said supply pins and at which a longitudinal axis of symmetry midway between said terminating points is less than half the distance between said supply pins from said line of intersection, electrical contact members for said supply pins (positioned within said housing at said terminating points, and an electrically insulating shielding member interposed between said contact members and said Wall portion, said shielding member being movable to uncover said contact members upon insertion of said supply pins in said guide channel, said shielding member having an upper edge surface configuration aligning with said guide channel and said slots in the said wall portion in the said uncovered position of said contact members.

2. A socket for electrical apparatus having two spaced parallel supply pins, comprising a supporting member having a transverse wall portion dening a housing and being provided with an open-ended guide channel for said supply pins, said wall portion being further provided with a rst slot open to said channel to provide a line of intersection between the central plane or" said slot and the central plane of said channel and being provided With a second slot open to said channel, said iirst and second slots terminating atv points of said wall portion which are spaced apart by the distance between said supply pins and at which a longitudinal axis of symmetry midway between said terminating points is less than half the distance between said supply pins from said line of intersection, electrical Contact members for said supply pins positioned within said housing at said terminating points, an electrically insulating plate shaped shielding member interposed between said contact members and said wall portion and being movable to uncover said contact members upon insertion of said supply pins in said guide channel, said shielding member having an upper edge surface configuration aligning with said guide channel and said slots in the said wall portion in the said uncovered position of said Contact members, and spring means within said housing urging said shielding member into position covering said contact members.

JOHANNES SEMEYN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the :le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 2,259,096 Alden c Oct. 14, 1941 2,267,145 Strong Dec. 23,r 1941 2,292,060 De Reamer et al. Aug. 4, 1942 2,338,970 Rosenthal Jan. 11, 1944 

